I should have remembered that long time ago. Thankfully I was able to catch on, hopefuly on time.

Very nice. My wife and I like it. It starts and ends with the same, it is symmetric and antisymmetric at the same time. Its a keeper.

Really cool the way you split the poem. You could work at it and make each column a poem in itself. Then you would have two poems running in parralel and also combine as one at the same time. Peace. Don't repeat the same line.

I did not like the single word lines. Cuts the flow of the idea for me. I do find the images interesting, but too repetitive. Is numbless two words?

I liked it, but as a dad I am sure the kids don't go home "chattering about the rules". Besides that your poem reminds me of when my kids would be walking to school when they were around 7 years old, in the fall and I would look after them from afar. Being a parent is such a gift.

A very touching poem. For some reason the first five stanzas did not rhyme the the rest did. Was that by design? Maybe better rhythm on the fist ones would make the poem more readable. The poem made me see the girl and her pain, so in reality there is not much more improvement needed. Thank you.

Very true. You can add "hmmm!" as well. It is probably a lesser "thanks a lot". My wife does all the things you have put here. I am going to post this in our kitchen and show it to my son just in case so he be put on alert. (he is 14). Can you follow this with words not to say to a woman? For example: "calm down". I always get her mad when I ask her to calm down. "after the game" or "wait till next commercial" also ticks her off.

Very funny, once a Nikki, always a Nikki. Is there an underlying message that men are useless?

Funny, get attention by stating something bold and then just copy from the dictionary. Haven't heard of a "humen". Kids need to learn to live first before making such claims. 15 years is a really short time. Life is long, as long as you want it to be. It will also be as exciting or boring as you want it to be. The difference will be in the attitude you have and the decisions you make when crunch time comes. Will you be a shepard or a sheep?

The people sent to fight, if they fight with valor, courage, honor, and keep their promise to their country are heroes. It does not matter if who sent them are crooks, liars, decievers. Judgement will come to all on judgement day. The people sent to fight have no option but to obey. IMHO.